Video Post #2: Post-Vacation Mail Day, TTM successes & trades

I am posting up another video post simply due to time constraints. It is easier to talk and flip through cards for 10 minutes than build a post with meaningful content and good looking pictures. Again, it may seem hurried but I have a volatile 4 year old that is always ready to blow. So time to myself is rare. I will post some pics after what hopefully is a working video or link to one here:

I was on vacation for 4 days so I came home to a decent pile of packages. 

I sent this request to Dusty Baker on 02/14/2017! It came back exactly 2 years later. A little worse for the wear but thats the TTM game. I am just glad the card stayed in somehow!

No idea what happened with the Isaiah Thomas return. He kept my card and signed the small index card note I put in and then folded it and sent it back to me. TTM autos are always interesting. 

I can see why people steal cards. I felt so frickin' cheated buying a $5.49 pack of 2017 Topps Update just to open them later and find EVERY CARD RUINED. What a complete waste of $6, especially when my hobby funds are so low. That is my one purchase of new cards for the month.

How am I able to send a PWE with 6 cards to Hawaii undamaged yet Topps can't sell me a sealed pack of cards that aren't dented or bent?!

Mail Day! Some new Detroit Tiger pick ups

Stadium Club Members Only card of my 2 favorite players growing up. Only the club members got this card back in the day. I learned about this card from the Dub Mentality   blog. Check it out.

My blog is getting hot and heavy as I have reason and somehow time to post everyday. I got a great stack of bubblemailers and PWE's today and brought them inside safely from the monsoon outside. I will warn you now; I did get more Panini stuff. I already feel guilty as if I crossed the striking line but who knows how this autopen crap will play out?
Three thoughts I had today while ripping this stuff open:
1. Dudes are still not using painters tape or safer methods for sealing top loaders. If it happens to you, politely enlighten the sender. We can all make the hobby better with positive constructive feedback.
2. Every card transaction should contain bonus cards. I don't care if its eBay or a trade, when sending cards take an extra second to toss in something as a bonus. I did it when I was selling on eBay 100% of the time. Sometimes I'd send a auto or relic card to someone who bought a common from me for 99 cents. Most of the time it was a pleasant surprise for the recipient and it brought them back to me. If you enjoy receiving little bonuses, send them out.
3. Nick Castellanos is ONLY A MONTH older than Aaron Judge and has played in 508 career games. Now, I know Judge is tearing it up but Nick has been around for a long time already. One good rookie year doesn't get you in the Hall. If you are looking to invest in players, Castellanos is still crazy young (25 years young) and has an average players career numbers behind him. Just a thought.
Now the rest of the cardboard porn in order of opening:

Not numbered and pretty common but I needed something other than a basic bowman Manning.

Along the same lines, Burrows is gonna be something special.

Adding to my McCann collection.

Blastellanos is gonna have some great career numbers without showing up on anybody's radar.

/149, /149, /299 respectively

5X7 not numbered but begging for an autograph across it

/199 Once I get an auto from this dude I may hold off on buying him for a while until he shows something more.

/4000 Picked up for my bro.

Look at those good looks. No wonder supermodels flock to him.

Bonus Cards

Bonus Card

More unexpected bonus cards. Now I HATE Nelson Cruz and don't care for Ryan Braun but I do love the Topps Game Cards nonetheless.